Ever feel like you're being watched?
I DO.
It took me several weeks of getting used to people asking how I was feeling as opposed to how I was doing, but now - it's got an entirely different context to it. And it's not just "How are you feeling? " it's "Hooowwww are you Feeeeeeeling??????"
And I'm super annoyed by it.
(fyi, if you know me in real life and have access to this blog, you're not included in this post - It's my crazy family that's making me want to kill someone)
Please understand, I'm grateful to have so many people in my life who care about me, and this baby. And it's arrival. But the last thing I ever want is for people to make a fuss over me, and if they have to, I don't want to know about it.
So my family has been all up in my grill over the last week wanting to know "Hooowwww I'm Feeeeeeeling??????", and it really just wants to make me turn off my phone and lock my doors. And for some reason, the impending birth of this child is brining up all sorts of dysfunctional family dynamics just like weddings do. And it's kind of astonishing how many demands are being made of us. "So and so wants to know THE MOMENT you go into labor so she can blah, blah, blah"
How about this, I don't really give a shit what you want. Our plan is to labor as long as we can at home and after we decide to go to the hospital, and once we get admitted and settled, we'll make a couple of calls to let people know where we're at. Then whoever wants to come to the hospital can do so that their leisure.
Okay, sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
But to update all of you whom I love, and don't have any problem telling every detail to: I'm feeling okay. I am getting Braxton Hicks pretty consistently, especially when I walk a lot. I was never carrying super high, so I don't think I've dropped. But I can feel a slight heaviness in my pelvis. Mostly when I get up from sitting or laying down. Which from what I understand means the baby is dropping into the birth canal. Other than that things are moving right along. I'm being as productive as I can throughout the day, but definitely not pushing myself. Oh, and I might be a little more cranky than usual. :) Our hospital bags, and the baby's diaper bag is completely packed. And I feel ready.
So unbelievably ready.
So my family has been all up in my grill over the last week wanting to know "Hooowwww I'm Feeeeeeeling??????", and it really just wants to make me turn off my phone and lock my doors. And for some reason, the impending birth of this child is brining up all sorts of dysfunctional family dynamics just like weddings do. And it's kind of astonishing how many demands are being made of us. "So and so wants to know THE MOMENT you go into labor so she can blah, blah, blah"
How about this, I don't really give a shit what you want. Our plan is to labor as long as we can at home and after we decide to go to the hospital, and once we get admitted and settled, we'll make a couple of calls to let people know where we're at. Then whoever wants to come to the hospital can do so that their leisure.
Okay, sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
But to update all of you whom I love, and don't have any problem telling every detail to: I'm feeling okay. I am getting Braxton Hicks pretty consistently, especially when I walk a lot. I was never carrying super high, so I don't think I've dropped. But I can feel a slight heaviness in my pelvis. Mostly when I get up from sitting or laying down. Which from what I understand means the baby is dropping into the birth canal. Other than that things are moving right along. I'm being as productive as I can throughout the day, but definitely not pushing myself. Oh, and I might be a little more cranky than usual. :) Our hospital bags, and the baby's diaper bag is completely packed. And I feel ready.
So unbelievably ready.
8 comments:
I totally get what you're saying about family members making demands. I'm having a scheduled c-section, so it makes it VERY easy for people to make plans....but they might not be MY plans. I can already tell people's feelings are going to get hurt when we tell them OUR plans. Oh, the drama! Just remember, this is YOUR baby and YOU get to make the decisions from now on :) Of course I know that people are excited and just want to be a part of the experience, but they still need to be respectful of your wishes. I'm getting so excited for you!!!
Dangit! I signed in with my school blog...Mrs. Parnell...ha! Didn't want you to think I actually go by "Mrs. Parnell" in real life :)
I really hate the "How are you feeling?" you hear *so* often while pregnant. I understand that people are trying to be kind/show interest, but the truth of the matter is, between 4 months of all-day nausea, constant heartburn, and other pregnancy-related complaints, I've felt like absolute crap the majority of my pregnancy. And I'm pretty sure that's not what people want to hear. . . so I usually just say "I'm hanging in there."
BTW, FWIW, I think you have the right to have whoever you want at the hospital--or not. People will jsut have to respect the boundaries you set.
My standard response to "how are you feeling?" has been "GREAT!". Its not that I don't have tons of complaints, but honestly I am just so happy to be having this experience that I feel like I can honestly answer "great". It also seems to end the conversation, or let me say something about how grateful I am to get to experience this, which also gives people a perplexed look and also seems to quiet them down.
The feeling in my pelvis are so strange. If I wasn't pregnant I would think that I have a broken bones down there the way it hurts when I move around or stand up. I've not yet dropped either, and am doing my best to sit on the birth ball and squat, which also seems to help with the constant backache.
Oh, I'm so excited for you! You sound so ready to have this labor and delivery thing done and done!
Thanks for the advice about planning on stopping work 2 weeks before the due date. I've already informed my boss of this.
If I could change one thing about my birth experience (and it went so far off plan, you'd think there'd be a lot of shit I'd want to change), it would be this: I would have had exactly, and only, who I wanted in the delivery room and hospital. Visitors in the hospital are stressful. The nurses have a lot of information to pass your way. Plus getting the baby hooked up to the boob and getting used to doing that every 90 minutes or so, calls for a lot of boob exposure. I wish now that I had used much more discretion in letting people know we were at the hospital... Just my pennies, you can thrown them in the jar with all the other unsolicited pocket change being thrown your way :)
You're getting so close!!!!
I'd make a voice mail message that says: NO! I have not had the baby yet."
Glad you have everything packed and ready...can't wait for that 'announcement' post!
hahaahaha.. I can totally relate to the dysfunctional family crap you're dealing with.. My issues are with my in laws.. I love how everyone wants to tell us what we should be doing, or need to be doing, or what we have to do.. I love your line where you said "I don't give a shit what you want.." So true!! I hope things progress for you quickly :) Good Luck!!!
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